3D Dot Game Heroes Walkthrough & Strategy Guide

Climb up the stairs just left from the cave where you rescued Ai. Defeat the enemies roaming around above it, then continue north. There's a treasure chest just to the right here that you can open to find a Magical Bag. Beyond that, there's a weak wall that you can bomb. Do so, then enter the cave that the blast reveals to find the Developer Lounge. There, you can get some cool messages from the game's developers, theoretically.

West from that cave, you can head along a plateau. Continue west to the end of that high plateau and you'll see a cottage. Descend some stairs and enter the cottage, which is Hotel Nialliv. It's actually a good starting point for some adventures you'll soon have, and you can warp here later at your convenience. Enter the building and talk to the people to see what they have to say. The man near the beds will give you the Falcon Ball when you talk to him. Once you have that item, go ahead and leave.

(Above Left) Obtain the Mirror of Truth from the swamp southwest of Hotel Nialliv so that you can pursue an important subquest. (Above Right) Find the secret cave just southwest from the Dark Tower, along the lower level of the swamp.

From Hotel Nialliv, head a few steps south past two dead trees. Stand between the two boulders positioned just below and to the right of those trees and use the Anchor Rod to grapple down toward the bottom of the screen. You'll latch onto a pole and head down to that area. Then from there you can head toward the southwest and enter a swampy area. It's easily identified because the ground is purple. You can walk safely on it because you are wearing the Miracle Boots that you obtained from the Wind Temple. Head along the swampy area, working toward the north as you battle zombies that are thick in the area. You'll come almost immediately to a wide, open area with some bracket-shaped rock formations. Head through the center of those two rock formations and you'll be stopped. The game asks if you wish to search. Answer that you do and you will find the Mirror of Truth, an apparent homage to Dragon Quest II.

Take the mirror back with you to Hotel Nialliv. Talk to the man who stands near the back of the room and when he asks if you can help him with a favor, answer that 'Yes' you can. He'll ask you to purge as many curses as you can, and you should answer 'Yes' again. Then you should rest up at the inn, if needed, before taking another trip down into the swamp area.

Venture into the swamp to the same general vicinity where you found the Mirror of Truth. From there, head south, then west along the swampy basin. You'll come to an area where you can climb up some centaur-patrolled ledges to reach the Dark Tower. That's the area where the game will soon conclude, but right now you can't enter it. Note that just west of the ledges leading up to the tower, at ground level, there's a hidden cave. You'll have to blast it open with a Bomb. Make sure that you have one of each color of key before you bother entering. Once you do, step inside the cave.

(Above Left) Try to run past the traps one group at a time if you can. It'll save you magic power and probably health if you do it properly. (Above Right) Give up your weaker shield in exchange for the ridiculously protective Hero Shield.

The first thing that you'll see when you enter the cave is a locked red door. Open it with a Red Key, then head into the next room. You'll now find yourself in a narrow vertical shaft. Two sets of three traps will be gliding quickly back and forth. You can use your Slow Down spell to do precisely what the spell's name suggests. In a slower state, the traps can easily be avoided, one group of three at a time. Then you can pass up into the next room.

Here, a black knight is patrolling. You can take care of him from around the corner if your sword is in good shape, or at closer quarters if necessary. Then pass through the blue door to the right after surrendering your Blue Key for the task.

The next room contains another set of traps. There are three groups this time, moving up and down along a horizontal shaft. You should be able to run past them without taking damage by focusing on one grouping at a time. Then head into the next room and you'll find another black knight. You don't have to fight him if it's not convenient. Just exit through the green door below using your Green Key. You'll arrive in yet another vertical shaft full of spike traps. Run past them unless you have a lot of magic available, since an upcoming room not long after this last set of traps is the dangerous one.

In the next room, you'll go up against a single black knight. You can just run past him if you like. In the next room, you'll be going up against black knights and magi enemies. Here flight is not an option. Use the Freeze spell to take care of the knights, then let the room thaw. When you're down to just the magi enemies, cast Reflect and bounce their magic back at them. When the last of the magi are defeated, the door along the top of the room will open. Pass through it to find a traveler who became trapped in the cave. He'll offer to trade an old shield he found for your Bolt Shield. Agree to the trade and you'll receive the all-powerful Hero Shield, along with a Trophy commemorating the event.